A good choice for lighting is a 75 or 100-watt bulb that is 12" to 16" from your coin.

Usually, less than 75-watts is not going to be bright enough unless you are using a special high intensity lamp.

You should stay away from fluorescent lights altogether.

There are a variety of other coin collecting supplies that you may eventually want to consider as your collection grows and becomes more valuable. I have touched on them briefly below to give you an idea of what is available in coin collecting supplies.

Coin Collecting Books

As mentioned already, a good coin reference book is a must. A good coin grading book would also be helpful to carry with you to coin shows etc. where the internet is not readily available. There are also books available on many other aspects of coin collecting.

Coin Collecting Magazines

As your coin collection grows you will need something to keep the coins organized and protected.

Coin Software

Software is available for your computer that will help you inventory and track your coin collection. It is hard to give advice as to the best software to purchase. It is usually just a matter of each users needs and preferences. Try to find one that offers a free trial period to see if it suits your particular needs.

Most coin collecting supplies are available online or at coin shops or hobby shops in your area.

Coin Display Cases

Coin Display Cases are available in wide range of sizes, shapes and materials and offter coin collectors a great way to show off their collections while protecting the coins in the collection at the same time.

Coin Holders

When you are just starting out, most of the coin collecting accessories you will need can be found in your own home. You can use envelopes, jars, bags or boxes for newer and less valuable coins that do not require any special handling or cataloging. A cigar box would be perfect for the beginner.

As your collection grows and you start to accumulate more coins you might need some of these coin collecting supplies:

Misc. Coin Collecting Supplies

A supply of surgical or soft cotton gloves to use when handling your coins. These will protect your coin from fingerprints and oils from your skin, which can cause unwanted marks and other damage, especially with more valuable coins. They are very inexpensive and readily available.

A soft cloth or velvet pad to lay your coins on to prevent scratches and marring.

As you can see, there is a wide variety of coin collecting supplies available. Just keep in mind that it is not necessary to have all of these things to get started in coin collecting. I have just listed a few things that you might find that you need as time goes on and your collection grows.

When you first start your collection, you really only need a strong desire to learn about the type or series of coins you are interested in. You can learn a lot by surfing the internet. Eventually, however you will probably want a good reference book at the very least, so that you can carry it with you to coin shops and coin shows to have an easily accessible guide to the coins you are looking at.